Guatemala – Garbage and Waste in Las Vacas River Increasing Flood Risk

by in Americas, News

Garbage and waste from Guatemala City is blocking parts of Las Vacas river, increasing the risk of flooding and the spread of disease, according to authorities in Guatemala.

The disaster management authority in Guatemala have published photographs of the garbage strewn bed of the Las Vacas River in Guatemala department.

Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres de Guatemala (CONRED), say that waste, which includes garbage and sewage, from the city of Guatemala accumulates in the Las Vacas River in the municipality of Chinautla, Guatemala department, around 20 km from Guatemela City. The situation is now so severe it is considered to be a worrying flood hazard.

The garbage and waste blocks the river so that water can no longer flow normally, causing the river and its tributaries to overflow, particularly during the rainy season.

CONRED say that the sewage in the river is also a source of infection for the spread of diarrhea, respiratory and skin diseases, which are common in the rainy season.

Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under creative commons
Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under Creative Commons

 

Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under creative commons
Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under Creative Commons

 

Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under creative commons
Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under Creative Commons

 

Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under creative commons
Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under Creative Commons

 

Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under creative commons
Waste and garbage in the river bed of río Las Vacas, Chinautla, Guatemala. Photo: CONRED Guatemala, under Creative Commons

The Las Vacas River flows from the mountains in the eastern outskirts of Guatemala City and runs in a north-easterly direction to join the Motagua River. It has long been a major outlet for Guatemala City’s raw sewage and is known to be highly polluted. The municipality of Chinautla is also the location of the Las Vacas Hydroelectric Dam.